Amtrak - Sleepers

[185]

Just planning my next trip, which is to the US in February, and I'm considering using Amtrak's sleeper from Chicago to Seattle, the Empire Builder.

Been a while since I used Amtrak for anything outside the East Coast Corridor and am just wondering if the accommodation on the sleeper sets has improved. Considering getting a roomette for the two nights from Chicago to Seattle, and just keen to know if anyone has any (recent / last 5 years) experience of their trains.

It still pretty pricey, at $530 / £320 for two nights onboard plus travel, but factor in 3 meals and a bed, and it's not too bad. That said, a flight would cost $65 / £40 for the same (3 hour!) journey, but that's not what I'm there for, obviously.

Most of the other journeys I've planned are day trains or flights, but I'm keen to know if the refurbishment program has improved the sleeper trains much.


thanks


185

 

[Squaddie]

Just planning my next trip, which is to the US in February, and I'm considering using Amtrak's sleeper from Chicago to Seattle, the Empire Builder.

Been a while since I used Amtrak for anything outside the East Coast Corridor and am just wondering if the accommodation on the sleeper sets has improved. Considering getting a roomette for the two nights from Chicago to Seattle, and just keen to know if anyone has any (recent / last 5 years) experience of their trains.

It still pretty pricey, at $530 / £320 for two nights onboard plus travel, but factor in 3 meals and a bed, and it's not too bad. That said, a flight would cost $65 / £40 for the same (3 hour!) journey, but that's not what I'm there for, obviously.

Most of the other journeys I've planned are day trains or flights, but I'm keen to know if the refurbishment program has improved the sleeper trains much.


thanks


185

I travelled this route (from Seattle to Chicago) at Christmas 2010. I booked a bedroom, but I did have a good look at one of the roomettes (which was empty most of the way). They are small - very small - but the beds were of a good size when folded out and were comfortable. If you're travelling with someone it's nice to have two facing seats in the daytime: I find that much more sociable than having to sit side-by-side.

I'd say that the sleeping accommodation is well worth the price, as you'll get a good night's sleep each night and travelling all that way in a seat in coach class is my idea of hell. You can still, of course, use the observation car during the daytime if you need a bit more space.

 

[jamesontheroad]

I had a refurbished Roomette between Toledo OH and Cumberland MD (on the Capitol Limited) last year.

The fixtures and fittings have been refreshed (new coat of lacquer or paint on all the surfaces, and there was new upholstery. That was just an overnight hop, so I went straight to bed and got up for breakfast before disembarking.

Sleepers are relatively expensive because they're priced according to a very effective yield management model. However they're worth every penny when you consider the alternative - two days / nights in coach! I've done about ten or twelve nights in coach on Amtrak, never more than 36hrs straight on any one train, and the privacy and modest luxury of a roomette is definitely worth it. I like meeting people, but I also like not being overwhelmed by an obese passenger beside me or a loud snorer / talker / drinker in the seat behind me

 

[185]

but I also like not being overwhelmed by an obese passenger beside me or a loud snorer / talker / drinker in the seat behind me

Cheers...

You should have seen what was sat next to me from New Zealand to Heathrow on Sunday. I was well behaved and refrained from asking cabin crew why the elephants in cargo had escaped into economy

 

[ACL]

Just planning my next trip, which is to the US in February, and I'm considering using Amtrak's sleeper from Chicago to Seattle, the Empire Builder.

Been a while since I used Amtrak for anything outside the East Coast Corridor and am just wondering if the accommodation on the sleeper sets has improved. Considering getting a roomette for the two nights from Chicago to Seattle, and just keen to know if anyone has any (recent / last 5 years) experience of their trains.

It still pretty pricey, at $530 / £320 for two nights onboard plus travel, but factor in 3 meals and a bed, and it's not too bad. That said, a flight would cost $65 / £40 for the same (3 hour!) journey, but that's not what I'm there for, obviously.

Most of the other journeys I've planned are day trains or flights, but I'm keen to know if the refurbishment program has improved the sleeper trains much.


thanks


185

You might check with these folks on this forum/thread.

http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?/topic/57672-winter-planning-for-empire-builder-trips/

 

[mac]

Went between Washington and Chicago in October and booked a double bedroom but the bed was to small for two so wife had good bed while I was up top. The room was ok but on each side we had families with kids who where shouting all night. We would of been better with cheaper two singles. The food was awful seemed liked just warmed up unlike when I last went about 5 years ago when it was cooked.

 

[ainsworth74]

I believe they've done away with chefs for cost savings purposes so use a similar method to East Coast (when there isn't a chef they heat the food in an oven) for preparing food.

 

[jamesontheroad]

Food has indeed been downgraded significantly in the last six or seven years. Chefs just re-heating plated meals. Mostly horrid. Completely different story on VIA Rail, where long distance trains still have chefs making freshly prepared meals.

However the dining car is usually a sociable place, and the food is included in your sleeper fare. Amtrak staff usually seat you with other passengers so as to maximise the number of tables for families and groups.

 

[185]

However the dining car is usually a sociable place, and the food is included in your sleeper fare. Amtrak staff usually seat you with other passengers so as to maximise the number of tables for families and groups.

Well mixed report on Amtrak Sleeper. The roomette was very comfortable and the Sleeper Car attendant worked really hard all day, all night for the 52 hour journey. The food was actually fine, may have been reheated but still wasn't bad.

My complaints with the journey -

(1) 56 hours, and with failed aircon on the top deck of a boiling hot Superliner. It ought to be criminal.

(2) The restaurant staff were lovely, but it's Amtrak policy even when the restaurant is totally empty to squash all 8 passengers in there onto 2 cramped tables, with 20 other empty ones. I spent at least two meals sat half in the aisle due to the sheer size of some of the locals.

(3) Finally, the (seventh) driver managed to screw up the two locos at Reno on the third day, an despite the yard at Sparks being just 7 minutes away by rail, it took them three hours forty to arrange a replacement.

(4) No 'Thruway' bus from Emeryville into San Francisco upon arrival, apparently they forgot. After 45 minutes I walked off to catch the Bart into the city.

(5) Bus didn't show on the way back either at the Caltrain station. Apparently traffic issues.

I'm actually typing this from onboard the San Joaquin train from San Francisco (Emeryville) to Bakersfield. Conductor comes round, scans my ticket and tells me it's been cancelled... !??!

(6) Apparently, as they didn't (bother to/manage to) run either of the Thruway bus connections to or from San Francisco, the ticket was instantly cancelled. Was soon fixed with several telephone calls, but highlights the utterly poor reservations system they have - why do they try to be an airline?

Worst part is, the frontline Amtrak staff are great, however it's those at the back and in their management who seem to screw the whole job up.

 

[185]

Some pictures from this epic trip which was otherwise worth the money......

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Hey looks like a good trip. I am travelling on a couple of long haul Amtraks in April - the overnighter Flagstaff into LA and all day LA - San Fran. Got a bus on that one, from Oakland into San Fran, hope it shows up. Flying out of SF so won't have to worry about the collection.

If the restaurant meals can be a bit hit and miss (we won't get a meal included on the Coast Starlight), how is the Cafe option?

Out of interest how did you end up in SF on the Empire Builder?

 

[185]

Hey looks like a good trip. I am travelling on a couple of long haul Amtraks in April - the overnighter Flagstaff into LA and all day LA - San Fran. Got a bus on that one, from Oakland into San Fran, hope it shows up. Flying out of SF so won't have to worry about the collection.

If the restaurant meals can be a bit hit and miss (we won't get a meal included on the Coast Starlight), how is the Cafe option?

Out of interest how did you end up in SF on the Empire Builder?

Haha, I was priced off it, so I took the cheaper California Zephyr, Chicago to San Francisco. It worked out having to add a third night on the sleeper, making it prohibitively expensive for some reason (think it's spring break).

Café option is quite basic on normal Amtrak trains, nothing other than microwaved wraps and hamburgers, but that said it's edible, and probably still 50 times better than UK options. The café for Coach Class passengers is situated underneath the Lounge (viewing) car, and if full upstairs, there are still many seats hidden downstairs near the café itself.

I should mention I had no problem with the food in the restaurant, it actually wasn't bad, and although my meals were free, the prices for those not in First Class were quite reasonable. My only issue is their stupid, much criticised "squash everyone together" seating policy. :P

This San Fran to LA I'm on is a San Joaquin service, double deck, free wifi, quite new rolling stock, and a café/bar onboard - a café that seems miles better than the Amtrak long-haul offering. If your on a similar service to me, it's a 2-hour bus from LA to Bakersfield then a 6-hour train Bakersfield to SF.

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Nah I'm on the Coast Starlight, so long haul from SF - Oakland with some Genesis power, although will probably bring some food along for the ride since we are just in standard class and having been in the US for a week, imagine I might be rather full. I didn't mind the bus leg to catch an SJ, but travelling with my wife and mother, they preferred to just hop on the train at LA Union and the 10am departure time is rather civilised.

I will be travelling in September on the Texas Eagle, Dallas to Springfield IL in a sleeper car so will get to try the restaurant then.

Rather like the look of the Amtrak Steak on the restaurant car menu, have you tried this yet, is it any good?

 

[185]

I most certainly did, it was actually really nice, with potatoes and veg. Decent sized portion too. Plenty of choices with the steak offered aswell

 

[williamn]

Based on trips from DC to Chicago and Chicago to Seattle a Roomette is pretty clean and comfortable. However my friend in the top bunk on one leg found the top bunk too narrow to really sleep well in. The bottom one was fine though and very cosy.

The room is TINY, but just about adequate.

Showers are quite hit and miss, quite a few were broken in some way.

Food is generally pretty terrible, but the restaurant is a convivial place. Breakfast is the best meal, maybe because it is cooked fresh. Two days of Amtrak food really is enough...

For a Brit the highly unionised Amtrak world is observable and can lead to a quite uncustomer focussed (or customer unfocussed?) approach - things are done to make staffs lives easier rather than being best for the customer.

Overall a great experience.

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Just a quick question to tag onto this thread - how do reserved coach seats work, there don't seem to be any seat numbers, is it just first-come-first-serve?

Can you just take a seat in the lounge car or is that only for people eating?

 

[QJ]

how do reserved coach seats work, there don't seem to be any seat numbers, is it just first-come-first-serve?

how do reserved coach seats work, there don't seem to be any seat numbers, is it just first-come-first-serve?

You board the car you are directed to and find an empty seat. The car attendant checks your tickets and then places a card (hat check) in a holder on the rack above your seat indicating the seat is reserved between the stops marked on the card.

If your destination is not the final stop for the train the car attendant will remove the hat check to indicate the seat is vacant for anyone boarding after you have got off.

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As an aside my last journey by AMTRAK was from Chicago to Philadelphia by the now discontinued Three Rivers, then Philadephia to Jacksonville to connect onto the Sunset Limited and Los Angeles between Jacksonville and Los Angeles CA before ending back at Chicago courtesy of the Southwest Chief. A fair chunk of this route is no longer possible by passenger train. All done in economy sleeper. The Chief was headed by no less than 4 Genesis locos.

At one point on the Three Rivers it looked like late running would scupper my connection to Jacksonville. When I enquired about what would happen I was told I would be put up in a hotel room in Philly and put on the next available service. Not good if your train from Jacksonville only operated three times a week! Fortunately timetable recovery time and a spirited run from Harrisburg through the snow allowed me to continue my itinerary by cutting out a side trip to Atlantic City.

A couple who boarded the Sunset Limited faired less well than I did on their journey to Spokane. They got turfed off the train at Palm Springs CA onto a waiting rail replacement bus service. They would have missed the Coast Starlight departure from LA (there is / was a standby coach permanently parked at Palm Springs to cover such eventualities). Unfortunately they stil missed the Coast Starlight whever they were supposed to get in front of it and ended up going all the way from Palm Springs to Spokane by road!

I nearly came a cropper myself when I underestimated how long it took to get from Long Beach to LA Union station by Metro. I missed the Chief's departure by a couple of minutes only to be relieved at watching the train backing into the station. I thanked heaven for Express Mail at that moment. Sadly express mail is no longer conveyed by AMTRAK and was a reason for the withdrawal of passenger trains on some of the route I managed to travel over.

 

[Greenback]

Yes, it's a lovely, quaint old system isn't it!

 

[williamn]

Often you will be told where to sit, and won't have any choice in it.

 

[Greenback]

IIRC I was told where to sit on each of my four long distance Amtrak journeys. That was a few years ago now, so I wasn't sure if it had changed.

 

[Genocide]

Yes, it's a lovely, quaint old system isn't it!

It's a fairly logical system. The car attendants are on duty for the full trip of the train, which can be 3 days, but will take 8 hour rest breaks. They work a shift system so passengers wanting intermediate stops will be put in a car in which the attendant will be on shift when they are scheduled to disembark.

Not, frankly, a job I'd want.

Sleeper attendants have a marginally easier job and are generally car attendants who haven't burned out.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Just a quick question to tag onto this thread - how do reserved coach seats work, there don't seem to be any seat numbers, is it just first-come-first-serve?

Can you just take a seat in the lounge car or is that only for people eating?

Lounge car is first class on the Stairlift - café lounge is first come first served but you must have a seat in a car first, and this is the diner so you'll get kicked out at food time.

If you want to eat, an attendant will take your reservation, name and preferred time then call. So you'd say "Tim R-T-C, I'd like a 1.15 lunch please" then when 1.15 lunch is called on the PA you go to the diner and there'll be a table for you.

 

[Greenback]

It's a fairly logical system. The car attendants are on duty for the full trip of the train, which can be 3 days, but will take 8 hour rest breaks. They work a shift system so passengers wanting intermediate stops will be put in a car in which the attendant will be on shift when they are scheduled to disembark.

Not, frankly, a job I'd want.

Sleeper attendants have a marginally easier job and are generally car attendants who haven't burned out.

I watched what the car attendants were doing at severl points during my journeys. You're right, it does seem like a very busy job, and not one Wi oudl fancy doing!

At the smaller stops (flag stops?) they had to deal with just about everything, from finding the bags of alighting passengers, stowing the baggage of boarding passengers, selling tickets, writing out the hat checks, and generally making sure everything went smoothly. All this, in addition to policing the train between stops, answering queries, and explaining Amtrak rules (of which there seemed many!).

Amtrak employees may be unionised, but they still seem to have a pretty full on job to do, and I wouldn't fancy any of the on train roles to be honest!

 

[Genocide]

I watched what the car attendants were doing at severl points during my journeys. You're right, it does seem like a very busy job, and not one Wi oudl fancy doing!

At the smaller stops (flag stops?) they had to deal with just about everything, from finding the bags of alighting passengers, stowing the baggage of boarding passengers, selling tickets, writing out the hat checks, and generally making sure everything went smoothly. All this, in addition to policing the train between stops, answering queries, and explaining Amtrak rules (of which there seemed many!).

Amtrak employees may be unionised, but they still seem to have a pretty full on job to do, and I wouldn't fancy any of the on train roles to be honest!

When I had time I used to do a lot of Amtrak - my user name comes from the plastic that replaced the F40's. I did a solid three months chasing F40's in 1999.

In all my time I think I've only come across two really poor car attendants, and a not too good sleeper attendant. It's a bloody awful job and given what they work with, 2 1/2 bad comments is testament.

 

[306024]

Amtrak clearly feeling the pinch. Here is an email I received regarding a recent booking.

Dear Amtrak Sleeping Car Passenger,

In an effort to be good stewards of the federal funding received to operate our Amtrak service, a number of steps are being taken to eliminate losses in our Food and Beverage department over the next five years. Some of the changes being made to accomplish this include the discontinuation of select amenities on the Coast Starlight, Empire Builder, and Lake Shore Limited.

On or about March 31, 2014, the pre-departure refreshments and on-board wine and cheese tastings for Sleeping car passengers will no longer be offered on the Coast Starlight, Empire Builder, or Lake Shore Limited. Additionally, the complimentary sparkling wine, non-alcoholic cider, and chocolate squares will no longer be provided to Sleeping car passengers on the Empire Builder and the Coast Starlight. Sleeping car passengers will continue to receive all regular meals in the Dining car at no additional charge, and passengers may purchase cheese and cracker trays and other snacks, as well as liquor, wine and beer, in the Lounge car on all long- distance trains.

On approximately May 31, 2014, complimentary amenity kits will no longer be provided to sleeping car passengers on the Empire Builder and the Coast Starlight. Your Sleeping car attendant will continue to have select emergency toiletries on hand when needed.

While it is never easy to tell you, our valued customers, that we are eliminating some amenities, these changes are necessary in order to reduce costs, increase revenues and preserve passenger rail service across our country. If you have any questions or comments about these changes, feel free to contact me using the “contact us” link on the Amtrak.com home page.

Thank you for traveling with Amtrak. We appreciate your patronage.

Sincerely,

General Manager, Long -Distance Services

The cheese and wine tasting was still happening on 1 April, but the chocolate squares had been withdrawn

 

[Greenback]

Amtrak's funding has always been a little precarious (if that's the right word). I have no problem with them withdrawing these little extras to try and protect the core product.

 

[williamn]

I still don't understand though why the reservations couldn't be computerised rather than having to get the attendants to do it - with any volume of people boarding it can be chaotic and time consuming.

 

[Tim R-T-C]

I considered booking first class on the Starlight for the wine tasting and other perks, but there are three of us going and the rooms were a big extra cost.

 

[306024]

Amtrak's funding has always been a little precarious (if that's the right word). I have no problem with them withdrawing these little extras to try and protect the core product.

Maybe, but withdrawing chocolate squares? The end of civilisation as we know it I reckon the little extras I got worked out at about $5 per head cost price, the admin and transport to ensure they are provided probably costs more.

As Tim R-T-C says, the sleeper accommodation is expensive compared to the actual fare, but on my train was fully booked weeks before. All computerised, I got the berth that was shown on my print at home ticket.

However it certainly is quaint compared to what we are used to in Europe.

 

[Genocide]

Amtrak faces a very uncertain future, I'm afraid, not helped by some very poor leadership recently.

We can't compare apples and oranges, so what might be regarded as archaic practise in Europe actually fits the US model well.

I've often wondered, though, what might happen if European models were applied to Amtrak. It's not as outrageous as you might think - Greyhound is now owned by First, Stagecoach have a big presence and Metrolink (LA area commuter rail) is Veolia.

 

[williamn]

Some of the archaic practices I think contribute to a high cost base and put passengers off. Why shouldn't I be able to select my seat on an Amtrak train myself? Even online at the time of booking? Passengers are forced to sit in groups together, even if the train is half empty, for the convenience of the staff.

Boarding a Seattle bound train in Vancouver I found that they had a sheet of labels with every seat on the train on them which they then stuck onto each passengers tickets - very time consuming and again, eliminating any choice for the customer. I was sat next to someone in first class despite many seats being open.